Have you ever thought about how obedience is related to faith? How do you show someone you trust them? How do you show someone you believe what they are saying to you? How do you show someone you love them? I have been listening to a teaching entitled “The Obedience of Faith” and let me tell you, there were some things in it that were difficult to swallow. That’s how is it sometimes. Once in a while, God has things for us to learn that are not easy to hear and for me this was one of those things. Even though it was not a “jump up and down, shout hallelujah” message – it was a message I needed. There were things I needed to recognize and things I need to put into action. Let’s face it, we can hear teaching nd preaching and read our bible day in and day out, but unless we put what we hear and read into action…it does not do us any good at all. Faith without works is dead. I do not want dead faith. I want my faith working all the time.

Here are the key points I learned about the obedience of faith.

Faith and obedience go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other. If you are not willing to obey, your faith is not working. I had not really connected obedience to faith, but when I stopped to think about it, I realized that the true expression of our faith in God is obeying His word and doing what it says. No matter what everyone else is doing. No matter how unpopular it is. No matter what. If we want to please God we need to obey him. Obedience shows Him that we have faith in Him.

Rebellion is dangerous.

Rebellion will keep you from experiencing all God has in store for you. Saul was anointed to be the first king of Israel. He was chosen by God and anointed by Samuel. However, because he disobeyed God’s instruction and refused to repent for his disobedience, he lost it all. The sad part of this for Saul is that disobedience is not the end. God is merciful and he will forgive our disobedience if we repent. Saul would not repent. He would not admit that he had disobeyed. He made excuses. He blamed others. And because he would not admit his mistake and repent, he lost his anointing. God picked someone else to be king of Israel. That is serious stuff right there! I do not want to miss out on what God has planned for me.

We live in a culture that somewhat honors rebellion. Be careful what behavior we are encouraging and excusing. Rebellion is not cute. It is not a phase that must be endured. Pride and rebellion are how Satan fell from heaven. It is not acceptable.

Rebellion and ignorance are not the same.

Doing something wrong because you don’t know any better is different from knowing something is wrong and continuing to do it. Once God reveals to you something that He wants you to change, you need to make the change. If you don’t make the change, you are in disobedience. Don’t plead ignorance when you know better. I have gotten myself into some big messes because I did what I wanted to do rather than what I knew was right. I’m guessing you have too. Most of us have. It is not pleasant to get to a place where everything is messed up and you don’t know how you’re going to make it right. But God. Thank God, He is so merciful that even when we are stupid and rebellious, he will forgive us and help us get back on track. Again, this is contingent on us repenting, admitting our mistake and asking for forgiveness. If we make excuses and do not admit our bad behavior, He has nothing to work with.

Correction is not enjoyable, but it is necessary and it is for our benefit.

In the teaching I listened to, the pastor gave this example: Imagine we are flying in an airplane. I’m piloting and you are in the back as a passenger. As we’re flying, I get off course and we come out of some clouds to see a mountain right in front of us. I will need to make an immediate and drastic correction to avoid slamming us into the mountain. Your ginger ale will spill and if you don’t have your seat belt on you may even fall out of your seat. It will not be pleasant – but you want me to make the correction because if I don’t, we will all die. Sometimes, the corrections God needs to make in our lives are drastic and painful, but they are for our benefit. Now here’s an important key – if we allow him to make little corrections often, chances are we will not need to experience those drastic, painful corrections to get us back on track.

Obedience is an act of love.

The greatest example of this is what Jesus did for us. In the Garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested and eventually crucified, He asked for a way out but He also said “not my will, but thine”. And then He did what Father God asked him to do. He was mocked and beaten and hung on a cross to die. He took my sin and shed his blood so I could live. And he did it for you, too. Why did he do it? He could have chosen not to go thru with it. He did it because He loved His Father. He did it because He loved us. He did it because of love.

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

http://bible.com/1/rom.5.19.kjv

If you would like to listen to the teaching that inspired this post, you can find it here. This is not an affiliate link. I earn nothing by sharing it. Moore Life Ministries provides teachings free of charge…no cost, no excuse. Check it out. It’s good stuff!